Adelaide star Izak Rankine has been named to play in the Gather Round opener against Geelong on Thursday night.

The 24-year-old injured his calf in the controversial loss to the suns, after which the AFL admitted Rankine should have been paid a crucial mark or free kick late in the game.

Rankine did a light session at training on Wednesday afternoon.

Coach Matthew Nicks has also made it clear they will not risk a longer-term injury.

“We’ll give him every chance, obviously being a short break,” Crows key forward Taylor Walker said at Wednesday’s Gather Round launch in Adelaide.

Rankine was named in their lineup, with the teams making two changes apiece.

The Crows recalled Matt Crouch and Zak Taylor for James Borlase and Lachie Murphy.

Geelong lost Jack Henry to a hamstring injury and dropped Ted Clohesy, recalling Mark Blicavs and Mitch Knevitt.

While the Crows had their first loss of the season on the Gold Coast, they continue to impress.

Looking free of the back problem that hobbled him at times last season, Walker is proving a potent key-forward triple punch alongside Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty.

There has been talk the Crows might rest Walker, but he wants nothing of it.

“I’m enjoying being part of something that we’re building,” he said.

“I’m not resting, I get paid for playing footy.”

Walker is rapt with Thilthorpe, who kicked five goals against the Suns to continue his strong start to the season.

“Where do you start? All aspects, really - his contest work has been outstanding, his ability to finish in front of goal, his ability to protect his teammates, build connection,” Walker said when asked what had impressed him about Thilthorpe.

“We’ve seen some defensive efforts from him that have been phenomenal for a 200cm guy.

“He’s just building his all-round game and I’m really enjoying playing right alongside him.”

But Walker made it clear he was less impressed with Suns defender Mac Andrew, who tussled with Thilthorpe after the final siren.

“I’d like to think that once the siren goes, you shake hands and you leave it at that,” he said.

“We get to play them later in the year, don’t we? We look forward to that.”

Walker will no doubt go up against Geelong’s defensive general Tom Stewart, who is relishing the prospect of playing Adelaide to open Gather Round.

It will be the first time since the concept started two years ago that the Cats play one of the Adelaide teams during Gather Round.

“The anticipation of playing Adelaide in the first game is something that’s really, really exciting,” Stewart said.

“You see the banners and all the colours around the town ... it seems to be getting bigger and better.”